Can I grow medical marijuana outdoors in Maine?
Thanks to LD 1296 which was enacted into Maine law in September of 2011, medical marijuana patients can grow
cannabis plants outdoors in a secure fenced-in area. So dig a hole, plant a seed, and watch your Maine Green Bud grow!
Securing Your Outdoor Garden
When
growing outdoors, you still need to be sure the area is secure. You must have a fence that is at least 6 feet high unless local ordinances prohibit a fence of that height. The law
also requires the area to be equipped with a lock or other security device
that “permits access only by authorized personnel”. If growing an
outdoor garden, you should have a sturdy tall fence in a discrete location. A
simple padlock and hasp will meet state requirements. You may wish to
use cameras, motion detectors, or an alarm system to prevent theft.
Legal Limits
Medical
marijuana patients may have up to six mature, flowering cannabis plants, up to 12 nonflowering female plants, and an unlimited amount of seedlings.
This allows a patient who grows to provide themselves with a perpetual
harvest of medicine. If more than one person in your home is a medical
marijuana patient, you may share the same grow area, but you should write names on each container so no one is accused of growing more plants than the allowable
amount.
Strains for Maine
Whether
growing a long-time favorite or buying medicinal quality seeds or
clones, be sure you will have time to grow your plants to maturity.
Maine has a relatively short grow season so you should choose an
appropriate strain. Indicas, indica-dominant hybrids, and
afghanica-indica hybrids all do well outdoors. If you want to grow a
large sativa strain, you must start your seedlings or clones indoors in
late winter or early spring and induce flowering in mid summer.
Outdoor Difficulties
If
you live near the coast, you should grow in a locked greenhouse rather
than an outdoor garden. The salt air can create a build-up of salt in
your soil which will block nutrient absorption and the constant fog can
encourage Boytrylis fungus growth, commonly known as “bud rot”. Any
pest or fungus problems should be treated naturally so you do not
contaminate your medicine or the earth.
Harvesting
Medical users may only possess 2.5 ounces, but can have up to 8 pounds of "incidental" The first frost of the year generally occurs around Oct 7, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Some purple and blueberry strains will benefit from a slight frost, but you should always plan to harvest by the beginning of October.
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