Earn Money as a Medical Marijuana Grow Consultant

Medical marijuana patients face several unique challenges after receiving their authorization to possess marijuana. In fact, even though several states have legalized medical marijuana, federal law still allows authorized patients to be prosecuted for possession of the drug in federal courts. The laws also state that even though doctors can authorize possession of marijuana for patients, they may not prescribe the drug, offer advice on how to grow the drug, or offer advice on how to obtain the drug, leaving patients to fend for themselves when it comes to procuring and cultivating marijuana.

The problem with our current system of administering medical marijuana is that it hurts those who need the drug the most. Medical patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, cancer, aids, and other debilitating diseases simply don't have the energy or strength to track down a reliable source for the drug and have even less energy to actually grow the substance themselves. If the patient is not located near an authorized dispensary, chances are, they will be forced to deal with the criminal element in order to get their medication.

Even though marijuana is a weed and can grow just about anywhere, a certain level of knowledge is needed for a successful crop. Use of the wrong nutrients or storage of plants in the wrong conditions can drastically reduce the effectiveness of the final crop.

A marijuana grow consultant is a person who mentors authorized medical marijuana patients on how to construct a quality grow room, how to maintain proper growing conditions, and eventually how to turn a plant into useful medication. Marijuana grow consultants do not (and should never) transport marijuana, sell marijuana, or otherwise consume marijuana (unless they themselves are authorized patients). This is not only to avoid legal trouble, but also as a matter of personal safety, since grow consultants who possess marijuana in public can become the target of criminals who would rather steal marijuana instead of grow their own.

Marijuana grow consultants may decide to work strictly in an advisory capacity or they may decide to actually perform the task of growing and maintaining a crop from seed to stash on behalf of a patient. A consultant working strictly as an advisor would instruct, mentor, and supervise the growth and cultivation of a crop, performing as little of the actual work as possible. This method of instruction is preferable for medical marijuana patients who are not totally incapacitated or in constant pain and would like to learn the skill of growing so they can duplicate the process later.

For patients who just aren't up to growing their own plants, a consultant can take on more of the physical labor that goes into plant growth, or can serve as an advisor/mentor to someone close to the patient that the patient can appoint to grow on their behalf. Either way, a consultant that actually performs physical labor to cultivate a crop of marijuana is able to charge not just for time, but for labor, materials, etc.

The only problem with wanting to start a marijuana grow consulting business are the legal implications of starting any type of business within the marijuana community. Social stigmas aside, working as a grow consultant in some jurisdictions, in any capacity, could land the consultant in legal hot water.

The information in this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or professional advice. That being said, anyone considering starting work as a marijuana grow consultant should first seek the advice of an experienced attorney to determine what requirements, if any, must be met in order to stay within the limits of the law. Some jurisdictions, for example, may not require any licensing as long as the consultant does business under their full legal name, not an assumed business name. Other jurisdictions may require that anyone helping patients grow marijuana receive an official appointment from the patient in writing (depending on how much physical labor the consultant actually performs). Due to the extreme differences in laws and regulations from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, prospective marijuana grow consultants should seek the advice of a local attorney who is familiar with the requirements of running a business within the specific jurisdiction in question.