Why the government doesn't want consumers to grow too much weed
No matter where you look, every country approach legalizing cannabis in a slightly different way. There is no generalized standard, and what is allowed changes so much, but one thing that almost always remains the same is a limit that restricts the number of marijuana plants, or weight worth of flower, that any person can have at any given time.
In Canada, we’re limited to 4 marijuana plants per legal aged adult while Uruguay consumers can grow up to 6 marijuana plants each, and in some places like South Africa, there are no clear rules that limit cultivation. Still, even in the most lenient countries, it is always recommended that growers attempt to produce no more than they can use, which for the average user isn’t a whole lot.
Are they afraid consumers will get too high?
It is physically impossible even with the most skilled hands to produce a concentrate or any cannabis product that contains enough cannabinoids to be truly concerned about the well-being of those who use it. A toxic amount of this plant is not something that any average joe could conceive, and the government and our scientists know this. So while it’s a nice thought to believe that these officials have our best interests in mind, they don’t seem to be too concerned over how high we get.
Discouraging the black-market
It’s easy to look at the regulations as arbitrary rules that appear to do little more than inhibit consumers and their ability to stock up as much as they want on weed. After all, what harm is someone really going to do with a basement full of growing marijuana plants or packaged product? Unfortunately, though it would be great to have confidence in everyone and their ability to follow the law, by not selling what they grow. Money works as an incredible motivator that entices even the most honest individuals.
If larger amounts of cured and ready to go herb were sitting around at any given time, it would be inevitable that a good portion of the “excess” would end up on the black market, be it through unlicensed dispensaries, or being sold straight out of some guy’s basement. Now, this is where most governments claim the problem begins because once an untested product hits the bowls of consumers, it could have anything inside.
You could be smoking hazardous chemicals, mold, or other contaminants like urine (yes, some people believe that peeing on their plants will help them to grow), and that’s not something that anyone wants, but very few consumers or advocates believe this ploy as the main motivator for law creators everywhere. For every gram sold on the black market, the government loses a percentage of tax which was initially supposed to be a much larger revenue stream than it is currently.
On top of financial motivation, government officials must worry about appeasing license holders who are paying a small fortune along with yearly taxes while following all of the costly rules that go along with legalization. These “added” fees make it really hard for legal dispensaries to stay competitive, and that’s a problem if we want them to survive as well as their continued contribution to the local economy through jobs and other related opportunities.
Should the rules be so strict?
Consumers rightly so are worried about the limits on growing marijuana because, without the right skill set, that amount may only provide a fraction of its potential. So, a strain that might otherwise produce up to half of a pound might only give a few grams if it’s grown in less than ideal conditions, and as you can imagine, that can be problematic, particularly for medicinal patients who cannot be without.
On the other hand, the concern about the black-market is legitimate, but is a limit for growing marijuana really going to make that much of a difference when it’s flourishing without the assistance of the average enthusiast? No one really knows for sure. However, it’s quite clear that consumers are starting to have their doubts.
