I am l-o-n-g overdue for a #weedcash post, but not for lack of interest! In true introvert style, I have researched and investigated growing my own cannabis and now I’m finally ready to talk about it.
It’s Not Simple -
So what took me so long? Get seeds or a clone and put it in some dirt and take care of it so it grows, right? Yeah. It’s not that simple, and here’s why:
Seeds are expensive! NC growers simply will not sell me seeds or a clone unless I have a NC permit to grow (more on permits later)! My only source would be seed banks, and they are willing to ship to me, but the price is pretty steep!
On one seedbank website, the Girl Scout Cookies strain is $10 CAD (Canadian) a seed, which is actually the best price I have found so far. A seedbank in the UK offers the same strain for 13.5 Pounds, sterling (about $16.5 USD). The South African seedbank sells 5 seed packs of various strains for 900 Rand, which is about $60+ or over $12 a seed in USD.
After not having that much success with my summer garden this year, I am quite hesitant. I need to make sure that I am truly committed to taking care of my little cannabis babies, because they will be a serious investment at those prices!
But Wait, It Gets More Expensive!
The cost of seeds and any residual expenses from caring for them is not the only cost of growing cannabis in North Carolina. North Carolina (NC) has recently legalized growing cannabis strains with a max of .3% THC content, with a permit.
It is part of an industrial hemp and research pilot program, and if your ($250 fee) annual license does not have the exact GPS coordinates of your cannabis, or if random testing by law enforcement indicates your plants are over the legal .3% THC cap, your plants will be destroyed and your permit revoked.
But Wait! There’s More!
The hemp license seems to be a bit extreme for someone like me. I probably would not ever grow more than a dozen plants at any one time. Doing that is illegal in NC.
Although medical use of marijuana is legal, growing your own personal stash for any purpose is not legal in NC. Go through the proper channels by going to a doctor, getting a prescription… You know - stimulate the economy!
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way –
If I decide to take a chance and grow illegally, my worst case scenario of getting caught might not be too bad.
In NC, being in possession of illegal substances depends on the amount, in my case it would be a misdemeanor. Chances are I would get off pretty lightly; being a sweet old southern lady with no priors, I could expect to get off with community service, after hiring an attorney and paying the associated court fees.
There’s Still More!
What NC drug dealers have learned to fear the most are the NC Revenue Officers. That’s right NC Revenue does not mess around! Get caught with an illegal substance and they will come to get their share through taxes and penalties! Most often dealers lose everything they own in such a search and seizure.
I actually worked in the training department at the NC Department of Revenue (NCDOR) for a year or so, and that’s where I first learned about their tax stamps.
As another source of money, NCDOR collects payments for taxes on unauthorized substances. Those that pay the tax are able to remain anonymous and receive stamps to place on the illegal substance. If the stamps are found during a search and seizure, those apprehended as the owners have some chance of not losing every possession they own.
The tax is 40 cents to $3.50 a gram, depending on which part of the plant is found. Stems and stalks are charged at the lower rate.
Now a Little Math
Not counting the stems and stalks, it is reasonable to think I would yield an average of 3 ounces of cannabis per plant, and that I could manage to have 6 successful plants. I can reasonably expect to have 18 ounces of cannabis. Rounded, there are 28.35 grams in an ounce. 18 X 28.35 = $510.30 tax that would need to be paid to NCDOR, and this is a yearly tax......$$$$$$$$$
I’ve Been Thinking
All this global warming and my age have caused my tolerance for NC humidity to decline with each passing year. I’ve been thinking of moving out west to a "cooler" state.
Should I stay and grow, or should I go?
images are from Pixabay
Text dividers and Cannabis Collective banner are courtesy of Canna-Curate
Additional references:
https://industrialhemp.ces.ncsu.edu/2018/09/hemp-reminders/
You sure have done a lot of homework on this topic @cindyhartz just Sunday we were walking along the rivers edge and noticed a healthy plant growing, will keep an eye on how it thrives right on the rivers edge LOL.
Oh yes. Keep us posted! 😊
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You should grow it, but it's illegal here
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Unless I get a permit, any cannabis plants I would have would also be illegal!
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Then hope you get one soon
Happy for you having legally growing this. I'm in smoke.io, I learned a lot how beneficial it is. One friend of me, living in Europe, she is growing and now on her harvest time. What bothered me in your post is the tax, I never know if it is also implemented in her place.
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Yes, the tax here is outrageous! Especially on cannabis!
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But for health benefits, just follow the rules than taking any kind of pharmaceutical medicine, now they are announcing to have a review because I may cause cancer... Oh my God!
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Really? Wow!
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Yes, I saw it everyday in my newsfeed in Google
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Very interesting! Each state has its own arcane laws for growing. NYS does not allow any growing, and the medical program is a disgrace.
Politics and greed!
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Sad to say it is still illegal here in our country. My argument to those who are against it is, "There are no known medical records that anyone has died from using it." But anything that is abused is bad and should be used in moderation. Go for it and grow it!
And purchase the tax stamps each year, or go fully illegal and risk getting hit by Revenue officers? 😜
Same here! AS well as on SMOKE.io - I've been in a whirlwind of things around the homestead.
So many things to do, so little time! The struggle is real! 😊
@cindyhartz - OMG I had no idea it was that complicated to grow a few weed plants. Or that expensive. Illinois is just now legalizing recreational use of weed at the beginning of next year, but I haven't researched the growing implications of growing, lol.
Yeah! Excellent example of how convoluted things get when the government is overly involved. It all comes down to greed in the end!
This is a decision that must be made independently!) And in our country, cultivation is prohibited!
Ha ha! Of course! But still wanted everyone’s reactions and opinions! 😁
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My thought is that if you have a serious desire to grow cannabis with a THC content, then you should seriously consider moving to a state that allows you to do that. If you just want to grow CBD hemp, you can get seeds for that from Oregon. They have been developing various strains of non THC hemp for growers of CBD products.
Heat and humidity, I really don't like that combination! Here in Upper Michigan, we don't have very many days in the 90s in the summer, but we get the humidity with the heat. Of course, the trade off for less heat is more winter...
Thank you for the information! I will have to check out what Oregon has to offer!
Yes, for several reasons, I’m looking at relocating out west. This past summer was just too much to handle and I didn’t take proper care of my garden.
Life is too short and I need to live where I can enjoy being outside more than I do here these days!
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If you move to Portland I can show you around!
Oh how nice! 😘
Yes, Portland is expensive, but it's really nice there.