How to Get High For Free (Almost)

What’s the worst part of being a weed user? I know there aren’t many things to dislike about it, but one thing that really sucks is the cost. Deciding what to sacrifice just so I could fit weed into my budget was a weekly hassle. That got me wondering if maybe I would be able to grow marijuana myself and never have to buy weed again. Well, here I am just a couple years later growing more marijuana than I can even think of ways to use.

Does that sound like a situation you would like to be in? With my guide and a willingness to take action, you’ll be growing your own marijuana paradise in no time.

How Much Does Growing Marijuana Cost? (The ‘Almost’ Clause)

When I put ‘almost’ in the title, I was referring to the fact that you will still have to pay a little money each grow towards power costs and supplies, but those costs will pale in comparison to the value of the crop you grow.

For instance, I spend roughly $150/grow for energy, supplies, and upgrades to my system. However, I have consistently yielded 4-6 oz on my last few grows which values  anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the area you live in. That’s at least a 10-to-1 return on my money! Not to mention, I would probably spend close to $150 on gas just picking up my marijuana if I were buying it over that same growing period of a few months, so I’m not really paying any more growing than I would be if I was still just buying my weed.

There are also some startup costs, and they will need to be paid in either time or money, your choice. If you have a lot of time, and not much money, you can cut corners by fabricating your own growing system or buying less expensive lighting. If you want to start growing ASAP like I did, then you can get ready-to-grow systems and start growing within just a couple days.

Startup costs will range from $100 – $500 and this will mostly depend on the quality of light you use and whether you build your own system. If you have the drive to build your own, I say go for it, but I always suggest getting the best light you possibly can in either scenario. Your investment in higher quality light will pay for itself many times over in increased bud yield.

How Much Time and Effort Does a Successful Weed Grow Take?

Two important things to know before you start growing weed is how long an entire grow takes from start to finish and how much time you need to spend tending the plants over the course of a single grow.

The length of an entire growing cycle is going to depend a lot on whether you are growing an indica or sativa. Indicas will tend to take 10-12 weeks to grow from seed to yield while sativas typically take 14-16 weeks with a hydroponics setup and both can take a few weeks longer with soil. If yield is your highest priority, then indica is definitely what you want to grow because it takes less time.

I started with sativas (and failed), switched over to growing indicas with great success, and now I grow sativas again. I just had more bud than I could handle with the quick turnaround time of the indicas, and I usually prefer using sativas anyway.

As far as the effort it takes on a regular basis, it really is pretty off-hands. I usually spend about 5-10 minutes every 1-2 days looking over the plant, searching for any potential problems, balancing the pH, or whatever task might be necessary. No single activity takes any longer than 5 minutes. The only exception to that is cleaning the tank, which takes no more than 30 minutes on a weekly or biweekly basis, as well as the end harvest (but that’s more rewarding than anything!)

In total, I probably log about 10 hours of work for an average 3-4 month grow. If I were still buying, I would probably spend the same amount of time driving back and forth to the dispensary over that same time frame. Since I spend the same time for both activities, the question becomes which activity is more rewarding.

You tell me, would you rather spend your time watching your delicious buds swell and ripen right before your eyes or would you prefer to spend that time driving and filling up your gas tank?

Last But Not Least, How Much Marijuana Can You Get From Growing?

The short answer is, it’s really up to you. How much marijuana do you want? Set yourself up for success and you will get epic returns.

The long answer is that this is an extremely difficult question to answer because there are going to be a lot of variables that control how much end product you get. While I can’t give weight estimates, I can tell you some of the factors that will have the biggest influence on the end results.

• Hydroponic or Soil – End yields will be about the same, but hydro grows take less time. Result: more weed in the long run with hydro.
• Light Source – The amount of light your plants receive is the most significant driving force behind big bud yields. The type of light and distance from light to plant both play a massive role in bud production. Reflectors are also highly recommended for best results. No light = no energy = no buds. Mega light = mega buds = mega high. It’s pretty much that simple.
• Nutrients and pH – Using the proper nutrients in the right amounts while keeping pH balanced is important for optimal results, but even poor nutrients in a somewhat unfriendly environment can still give decent results.
• Space – How tall your plants are will obviously have a direct relationship with how much potential yield you can end up with. Be careful though, bigger is not always better. 3 smaller manageable plants will probably offer more than a plant 3 times taller that’s an unruly mess.

Get lighting and nutrients/pH right and I’d say you have a 75% chance of succeeding. Follow the rest of the pages in my guide and your success is pretty close to inevitable. Remember, you can always contact me and ask me questions, I love to help!

Back to the point though, how much green will you be seeing at the end? The best way for me to give you an idea is to share my own experiences. I grow in a small closet, about 4’ x 4’ x 8’, with a 400W HID lighting system in a hydroponics setup. My last couple grows I had 2 plants in both grows that were roughly 2.5’ tall each, and I harvested 5.2 oz and 5.4 oz total. My current grow is poised to beat those results, and I think I might break 6 oz this time. Again, this is with only 2 plants about 2.5’ tall. How crazy your grow gets and the amount of buds yielded is completely up to you to control.

The Value of Growing Yourself

I love saving money when it’s easy, and I’m going to assume you do too. Think about this. If you don’t spend any more time or money on your grows than you would if you were buying your weed, then all the marijuana you are able to grow will be money you are saving.

How much do you spend on marijuana every month? What could you do with that money if it was back in your pocket? Even taking no other benefits into account, the money you save alone makes growing your own marijuana worth it.

I grow a minimum of $1,500 worth of bud each grow which takes about 3 months and maybe 10 hours of work total. That works out to ~$150/hour for my labor. I’ve never had a job that was going to pay me anywhere close to that, have you? If not, then I suggest you start growing your own weed too and start saving yourself a boat load of money.

Getting Started with the Marijuana Growing Guide

The guide I have put together shows you how to go from little, tiny seed to huge bud yields as quickly and easily as possible. Learn from all the mistakes I made and finish your first grow with jars full of sticky buds rather than fists full of ripped-out hair.

I will continue to update this guide regularly as I learn new things and understand more how people are using my guide. I want the guide to be as valuable to you as possible, so please let me know if you have any questions. You can contact me anytime on Twitter, Facebook, or leave a comment on any of the pages and I will answer you as soon as I can. Until then, take action and start getting high for free!