Is it profitable?

I have just moved to Washington state and I've always wanted to grow. My roommate and I both have medical cards but neither of us smoke a large amount. I have been going over prices of equipment and looking around at the cost of running a grow. It seems to be a pricey start and I'm not exactly sure of how much the shops pay. Im just looking for some clarification from someone who has went through this process successfully.

Start up cost?
How much to grow to be profitable?
Cost to run, monthly?
Bottom to top price you can sell for?

I understand there are many different variables that go into these questions. I just want to get a round about idea. Thanks.

I'm no expert but,

hmm.. having a card for personal use and being able to grow enough quality bud for a shop to take you seriously are two different things. I'm pretty sure that the shops deal in pounds and they expect the quality, appearance and strains to be pretty consistent. You couldn't really take in two ounces of shaggy Northern Lights Auto and ask "how much is this worth to you"

To consistently grow pounds you need quite the setup and you have to really hone your skills or you could hire a consultant to shorten the learning curve. You'd also have to stay within the constraints of plant limits etc..
Maybe try to befriend one of the managers at your favorite store and ask what they require of their vendors.

Alternatively, and check your local laws, I believe you can "donate" to other card holders. People in medicinal states tend to be pretty knowledgeable and picky about their meds so it would have to be quality buds, once again..

I'm going to sub and hope that someone more knowledgeable than me chimes in..

Best of luck..

oh its profitable, because we are basically in a modern day prohibition, i actually have specific numbers but i will not post anything on a public forum.....but u basically need years of gardening under ur belt and an ability to maintain a perpetual grow

Most important question first - Who do you sell to? Don't count on being able to hook-up with a dispensary as that is difficult. Also, I wouldn't want my name on anything regarding bud - legal or not.

COST... I would suggest having 2 grow rooms, one for vegging the other for flowering. You can go online and pick up everything you need for a 2-light grow for less than a grand. That includes a complete 400W set-up (vegging) and a complete 1000W set-up (flowering). You need pots, soil, nutes, etc. , should run around $200.

Profitability depends on both ends of the supply chain - you as the supplier and your connects as distribution. Profit = Gross - costs. As long as you are turning a profit on each plant the larger the grow the more the profit. The 400W/1000W set-ups I mentioned before is the size of my perpetual grow. I harvest 2 plants a week that average an ounce per plant cured. My 2 HD lights as well as another 100W bulb increase my electric bill $100 a month. There's not much variation except when I put a fan in the flowering room in the summer.

I hear that street dealers are paying $150 - 180 per ounce to their growers here. That is low end, kind of like a base price,eh?

Good luck, BigSteve.

As a medical user in MI, 'profitable' isn't a reality unless you have an 'in' with a dispensary. You CAN however with only one or two other legal patients (or in WA/CO anyone) break even, and have dispensary quality bud, all the time, of your choice, for free. I act as a supplier for two other patients who have no caregiver (one of the few legal ways to let my bud leave my hands, p2p=safe ) the monthly payment they give at the start of each month covers the cost of electric/water/nutes, etc.

I am digging out of credit card debt, and have moved my wifes score from a 695 to a 719 in the last 6months.... not with weed... but by not having to PAY for any weed... my entire check can go to paying bills... and for me, that was several hundred dollars every 2 weeks for dispensary bud... (and oil, omg, the money I save with my own oil extraction...)


So.. in short, is it profitable? No. Is it a money saving investment? Absolutely....(To the patient and moderately hard working)

If u choose to do it.. Read a lot first. Then buy ALL the shit first. Go big on lights/fans, can always turn them down....

Don't dive in, sprout some seeds under a desk lamp, and then go "Now what?" cuz in the end you will end up killing the thing and starting over... Read. Acquire. Setup. Grow. And always keep it simple, don't get complicated trying to make stellar amazing bud with advanced techniques.... try advanced shit when you are an advanced grower, cannabis is easy if you don't complicate it... this forum is big on one acronym above most... KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid.

(And get your seeds/clones from somewhere reputable, dont try to grow shit and expect something other than shit to come out.... cant polish a turd)

The bubble burst, kinda late to the party..you are better off buying wholesale n muling it to non legal state..that's profitable.

IMO don't expect to come in this scene with your roommate and just start producing like mad for a clinic doesn't work that way ........I personally grow for sick people who can't free of charge and before you come in with the mindset of making a living doing it do your homework and you'll see what people before us have went through to pave the way not pretty and not fun like you think Legal state or not cards or not paperwork galore doesn't matter I see trouble in your future legally with you thinking the way you are .....if you wana grow .......grow for a hobby and share with friends learn how to do it before you try what your thinking or your in for a shock ......medical grade is a serious thing for sick people that depend on it they deserve the best just remember that and keep those people in mind before you start thinking get rich schemes. Good luck

Sweeve said:

oh its profitable, because we are basically in a modern day prohibition, i actually have specific numbers but i will not post anything on a public forum.....but u basically need years of gardening under ur belt and an ability to maintain a perpetual grow

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Don't post pics either unless you can beat the codes on most phones and PC's. Just my opinion.

Indacouch said:

IMO don't expect to come in this scene with your roommate and just start producing like mad for a clinic doesn't work that way ........I personally grow for sick people who can't free of charge and before you come in with the mindset of making a living doing it do your homework and you'll see what people before us have went through to pave the way not pretty and not fun like you think Legal state or not cards or not paperwork galore doesn't matter I see trouble in your future legally with you thinking the way you are .....if you wana grow .......grow for a hobby and share with friends learn how to do it before you try what your thinking or your in for a shock ......medical grade is a serious thing for sick people that depend on it they deserve the best just remember that and keep those people in mind before you start thinking get rich schemes. Good luck

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I'm 66 and been smoking since I was 14. Grew up across from Juarez. A joint could get you life in Texas and get you shot in Mexico back then. I'm just thrilled we have legal. Agreed they are going to meet Joe Law