The state of Oregon has historically been a national leader on all things cannabis, and is home to one of the strongest, oldest cannabis communities in America.
Oregon was the first state to decriminalize cannabis possession (1973), was the second to legalize cannabis for medical use (1998), and was the third state to legalize cannabis for adult use (2014).
A number of cannabis legends have called Oregon their home, including the late legendary activist Jack Herer.
With all of that being said, it should come as no surprise that Oregon is also home to some of the best cannabis growers on the planet.
More and more people are coming to Oregon with plans to cultivate cannabis, either for personal or commercial purposes. If that is you, there are some things that you need to know before you start cultivating.
How many cannabis plants can you legally grow in Oregon?
Below is a quick rundown of the legalities involved with personal cultivation in Oregon:
- Four plants (any size) are allowed per residence that has at least one occupant that is 21 years old or older
- Each residence with at least one occupant that is 21 years old or older can have 8 ounces of flower on the premises, and 16 ounces of a cannabinoid product in solid form, and 72 ounces of a cannabinoid product in liquid form, and five grams of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates, and ten cannabis seeds.
- All plants have to be grown out of public view
- Local governments cannot ban personal cannabis cultivation within its jurisdiction (only commercial sales)
- Registered cannabis patients can grow an additional 6 plants and can have an additional 24 ounces on the premises
Oregon also allows cannabis cultivation for commercial purposes. As of October 20, 2017, a total of 1,734 cannabis producer applications had been received and/or approved by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
Even more applications would have likely been received if it weren’t for unreasonable cannabis industry bans in various parts of Oregon.
Hopefully, localities lift their cannabis industry bans in Oregon soon. But at least in the meantime cannabis consumers 21 years and older can still exercise their right to cultivate cannabis at their residence, at least from a state law perspective.
Is Oregon’s climate good for cultivating cannabis?
Oregon is a somewhat unique state in that it has so many different types of climates. This can either be a blessing or a curse from a cannabis cultivation standpoint, especially when it involves sungrown.
Anyone who lives in Oregon or has traveled there will tell you that it only takes a couple hours to go from one climate to a completely different climate.
Oregon is known for experiencing an extreme level of rain, which is true in some areas. But other parts of Oregon see far more snow than they do rain.
Below are the types of climates in Oregon, along with cultivation related concerns:
- Coast – Oregon’s coast is very wet, often cloudy, and hot sunny days are the exception. Watch out for powdery mildew.
- Valley – the Willamette Valley experiences more rain than most parts of the country. Powdery mildew and bugs are an ongoing concern. Sungrown cannabis does well in the Willamette Valley.
- Central Oregon – this part of Oregon is at a much higher altitude. Sun is plentiful, but humidity is not.
- Eastern Oregon – the eastern part of Oregon is a high desert climate. It also experiences a lot of sun with little rain and little humidity.
- Southern Oregon – the southern part of Oregon is one of the best places to cultivate sungrown cannabis on the planet. Southern Oregon’s climate is almost identical to Northern California’s famed ‘Emerald Triangle.’
Where you try to cultivate cannabis in Oregon is going to largely determine whether or not you can cultivate cannabis outside.
The coast range and the valley are going to pose the most issues due to the rain and less sunny days, but it’s still possible. I have personally seen some amazing homegrown, sungrown cannabis from those regions.
All parts of Oregon are suitable for indoor cultivation if temperature is controlled. Central and Eastern Oregon often require added humidity via a humidifier for indoor gardens.
What does someone need to start growing cannabis in Oregon?
Here’s a high-level step by step guide to getting a personal cannabis garden started in Oregon:
- Decide if you want to cultivate cannabis indoors or under the sun
- Make sure that your garden is out of public view
- Obtain some quality soil
- Obtain cannabis clones or seeds (seeds obviously take longer)
- If you are growing indoors, obtain a quality light or lights if you have enough room in your space
- Determine which nutrient regimen you want to use
- Water and feed your plants regularly
- Harvest when your plants are ready
Cultivating cannabis is a lifelong journey. Everyone that is new to cannabis cultivation will experience up and downs.
The main thing to keep in mind when cultivating cannabis is that you need to start out simple and work your way towards more complex cultivation methods over time.
Growing cannabis is one thing. Growing cannabis successfully is an entirely different matter…
