By Alex McCuaig

Cannabis growing

Home production of cannabis a growth business

Oct 12, 2019 | 6:07 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – With a plethora of cannabis outlets in the city, one of the world’s largest marijuana production facilities being constructed and even the college offering courses on production, there is only on shop in town which is focused on personal production of pot.

Ken Smith, co-owner of Grass City Growers, says personal production of cannabis is something he got into after he was prescribed the drug for pain relief. After realizing there wasn’t a store specializing in equipment for growing cannabis, he and his business partner started one almost a year ago. And business is growing.

“I’m sure there’s a thousand (Hatters) that are growing or starting to grow there own,” said Smith. “I mean, we’re busy. There’s new customers and we’re seeing a lot of people taking advantage of the legalization and growing there own.”

For those growing recreationally, Smith compared it to brewing beer or wine making with people growing for much the same reasons.

And like those activities, there is an initial cost to growing, “and there is going to be time and effort to growing your own,” said Smith. “And also the benefits of it’s yours – you know what you grew. You know what went into it and you know its safe.”

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Smith said there is a generational difference in how cannabis is viewed but there is a growing acceptance since it became legal.

“It’s not something where you put your plant in a tent and put your light on and walk away. There is effort to put in to growing a plant,” said Smith.

As for cost, Smith said that’s varied with a growing set up ranging from under $500 to a tent set up to grow the legal limit of four plants coming in around $1,200.

Smith said for renters, it’s important to check with landlords to see what the rules are regarding growing cannabis.