Illinois Home Grow: Growing Your Own Cannabis
Disclaimer: The information below is not legal advice and is provided for educational purposes only.
Starting January 1, 2020, cultivating cannabis for personal use in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will no longer be a criminal offense under state law. Illinois residents 21 years of age or older who are registered qualifying patients under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act will be allowed to grow five plants for personal use. Growing no more than 5 plants for personal use not in accordance with this act will be subject to a civil violation, punishable by a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200.
Limitations
There are some limitations in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. For example, cannabis cultivation must take place in an enclosed, locked space (secure from unauthorized access) and not stored or placed in a location where they are subject to ordinary public view. Additionally, an owner or lessor of residential property may prohibit the cultivation of cannabis by a lessee.
Location: An Enclosed, Locked Space
“Enclosed, locked space” may include: (1) a space within a residential building that (i) is the primary residence of the individual cultivating 5 or fewer cannabis plants that are more than 5 inches tall and (ii) includes sleeping quarters and indoor plumbing. The space must only be accessible by a key or code that is different from any key or code that can be used to access the residential building from the exterior; or (2) a structure, such as a shed or greenhouse, that lies on the same plot of land as a residential building that (i) includes sleeping quarters and indoor plumbing and (ii) is used as a primary residence by the person cultivating 5 or fewer cannabis plants that are more than 5 inches tall, such as a shed or greenhouse. The structure must remain locked when it is unoccupied by people.
Starting Your Home Grow Journey
Some qualifying patients may be considering home cultivation but don’t know where to begin. Our workshops are designed for first time growers and guide those new to cannabis cultivation through the fundamentals of growing cannabis for personal use.
Planning Your First Grow
When choosing your location, space will be one of the main constraints. Within smaller enclosures, it may be better to grow multiple small plants or fewer large plants. Growing one or two medium-large plants at once may be a favorable approach for beginners. A basic understanding of topping, pruning, and Low Stress Training technique is recommended. Check out our resources page for help getting started.
Home cultivation does not come without challenges. Our team has over 10 years of education experience and will help you make the most of your first grow. Combining our skill sets with a passion for education, we have designed an interactive curriculum with specific objectives for each session.
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