Growing cannabis could be cheaper, better than buying

When buying and possessing marijuana becomes legal, so will growing your own pot.

According to federal rules, which Saskatchewan has adopted, a person 19 or older may only possess one cannabis seed at a time and can grow up to four cannabis plants, starting Oct. 17.

Michael Smith, with B & B Hydroponics in Regina, said the store has seen more people coming in lately to talk about what goes into growing pot. He said the best way to do here, is indoors.

“Saskatchewan seasons only really offer one type of pot to be grown, and general consensus is it’s a pretty low yielder and not very potent,” Smith said.

Smith noted for indoor gardening, people really need a light and a growing medium, like water for hydroponics or soil.

He said any kind of setup can be used — from a grow tent with a carbon filter, to a room with proper air circulation and humidity.

While some people and building managers have concerns about indoor growing, such as mould formation, Smith said that isn’t a normal result of growing marijuana.

“That’s usually somebody getting started who doesn’t really know what they’re doing and they just throw some plants in a closet with a light,” Smith said.

“Of course they end up getting mold, because the humidity’s way too high.”

He said proper air circulation can fix that, and the setup doesn’t have to drain power either.

Smith explained that depending on the type of lighting, it can run anywhere from $10 to $100 a month.

Overall, he said growing the plant will give provide the user a better product, adding large grow operations — because of how they’re done — can end up with a harsh product.

“If you want a high-grade beer, you’re going to be going to a craft brewer and they’re going to be able to make better beer than you can at home, generally speaking,” he said.

“That is not the way it is in the cannabis market.”

As for the cost of home pot, Smith said it’ll cost users about $1 per gram they grow compared to at least $10 per gram in a store.

Smith said  they expect more people will look at growing cannabis in about a year after people can discern the price and quality of the product they’re getting from stores.