Obtaining permission to grow medical marijuana can be a complicated and potentially difficult process with some particularly tricky legal issues involved. Some places such as Amsterdam have made the growing of marijuana legal, though it is controlled by certain government regulations. In the United States (U.S.), however, being able to grow medical marijuana is a far more complicated issue. The primary problem is that it brings into light a conflict between states' rights and laws, and federal laws regarding illegal drug regulations. To grow marijuana in the U.S., any sort of applicable permission to grow the plants must be obtained from the state where the plants will be grown.
Programs to legalize the growing and selling of medical marijuana exist in states such as Colorado. Anyone looking to become a medical marijuana grower must seek a license from the state government and register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The inventory by weight and a list of clients must be carefully managed and reported to state regulators. Any misplaced inventory or customers who do not have permission through a doctor to purchase medical marijuana will cause legal ramifications for a grower.
Other states, such as California, have also made it legal for ordinary citizens to grow marijuana to sell through licensed businesses for medical purposes. Such growers and businesses pay taxes on the sales to both the state and federal government like any other enterprise, which would make it seem like there are no other legal repercussions with the issue. The federal government, however, has made the growing and selling of marijuana illegal throughout the U.S. This means that someone can grow medical marijuana legally at a state level, but be breaking federal laws and be open to investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Regardless of your location, an excellent first step to gain permission to grow medical marijuana would be to contact your local government. If you are in the U.S., you should contact your state for a business license and the FDA for permission to grow. This process may take months or years, depending on the state and other factors. You should also be sure that you are ready to deal with the potential legal ramifications of growing marijuana even for medical uses. Even with proper licensing and assurances from your state, you may still find DEA agents bringing federal charges against you.
