The Central Coast’s moderate temperatures and dry conditions make it a good place to grow cannabis in your backyard or on your balcony or rooftop. Under California law, you can have six personal plants, but they must be hidden from public view. Cities can also enact their own rules; the City of Santa Barbara, for instance, allows one outdoor plant, but the rest must be inside.
Though cannabis doesn’t quite grow like weeds, it is fairly easy to master, especially if you have experience growing vegetables, particularly tomatoes. There’s an endless amount of information on how to do so on the internet. Here’s a rundown:
Where do I start? Dispensaries sell female cannabis clones, which are easier to grow than seeds. You could also cut off a piece from a friend’s cannabis plant — called a “cutting” — and dunk it in cloning solution before planting it in the ground. You can also go from seed, but be prepared to germinate before planting.