Grow Cannabis in Oregon

Oregon is well known as one of the OG cannabis hubs. Along with a few other states, the hip and savvy people of Oregon were quick to embrace and advocate for the use of this amazing plant. 

Growing cannabis in Oregon is a great experience. All you really need are some good seeds and a little bit of space to get you started!

Growing Your Own Oregon Cannabis

Since 2015, folks have been allowed to grow their own marijuana in Oregon. But as with any plant, just tossing some seeds in the ground or in some pots isn’t necessarily good enough if you want robust, bud-heavy cannabis plants dripping with resin. You need to know some things about planting in the Oregon climate, too!

Most of Oregon has what’s called a “warm-summer Mediterranean climate”. This means the summers are toasty and pretty dry, and the winters are wet and mild without a lot of sunshine. If you’re growing cannabis outdoors, of course, you already know that you probably won’t be able to grow through the winter. 

Oregon might not have the perfect climate for growing cannabis, but it’s pretty darn good. The copious rain and rich, loamy soils make for hardy plants that give you the yields you dream of. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that while all that rain means you might not need to go out and water (great for your time management and the environment), if the drainage is so-so, your poor little plants are going to get wet feet, which leads to root rot, which leads to dead cannabis.

Ideally, pots or raised planters—where you control the flow of water out of the base—is your best bet. Pots are also great if you need to rush your plants indoors due to an unexpected weather event. (Remember, though, that any abrupt climate change will affect your weed babies.)

Oregon Cannabis Laws and Perception

Technically, in Oregon, if you’re growing ten or more cannabis plants, you need to apply for a special land-use license. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that means you can proudly and openly grow nine plants on your property.

Unless they’re a licensed medical user, folks in Oregon are limited to growing four plants for themselves. Medical growers can grow up to six (or 18 seedlings, to allow for losses and keep up the supply). And while there might not be someone checking licenses at the door, you do need to be 18 or older. 

The state is not your landlord, though. Don’t forget to run any planned growing by whoever owns your rental building. They can make their own rules (just like pets and smoking), and it’s always nice to be on their good side.

Finally, though the official rule is no cannabis grown within 1000 feet of a school, home grows are apparently exempt from this law. It’s nice to know that you can both grow the products that make you feel better and let your kid walk to class.

(PS: Older rules changed, and you can now make your own concentrates at home from your hand-tended weed. Score!)

How to Grow Cannabis in Oregon

Ready to grow some cannabis in Oregon? First off, most pro growers recommend discretion. Sure, it’s legal and everything, but not everyone is as accepting of marijuana as the laws and your group of bud-loving friends. Second, stick to the limits. We figure, why not? Pushing the envelope usually just ends up costing you a bunch of money in fines. 

With that out of the way, let’s talk about general gardening advice in Oregon! Most green, thumbs get planting around the beginning of April. As long as the weather isn’t wonky (which, unfortunately, happens more and more in this climate change era), that’ll give you about seven and a half months of grow time—if you start your seedlings indoors, that’s a couple of full harvests a year!

Make sure the area you’re growing in is big enough to support your plants as they get bigger. For the best results, you’ll want one to two meters between plants, which means you’ll need a pretty decent-sized planter. The great news is, you can plant other species in and around your cannabis plants to create your very own healthful microculture! (This spacing is also a great argument for separate pots, so that you can adjust their placement as they grow.)

We have lots more advice for growing cannabis in Oregon and around the country, so b sure to check that out!

3 Most Popular Oregon Cannabis Strains

Honestly, grow the strains that speak to you. Look for the ones that offer the high or chill out you know you need at the end of a long day, or have a flavor you know you love. If you follow the directions and take good care of your cannabis plants, you can grow any cannabis strain in Oregon that you want.

But if you’re overwhelmed and need some suggestions—and fair enough if you do—we can help. Here are three of the most popular Oregon cannabis strains:

 

Take a Look at Other Seeds!