Ok, been studying on this the last few days and thought I would toss it out for Y'all to chew on a bit, and to "set the stage", here is a very realistic scenario that hopefully is only a few years from now.

Patient: Male or Female, approx. 68 yrs. old , and has contracted a painful disease that is neither operable or helped via traditional methods (ie: taking painkilling, highly addictive drugs, or suffering through low success-rate surgeries).

Keep in mind this is your basic "Mom" type, a widow, lived a good life with her husband and is now wanting to enjoy some life on her own. Still able to get out and do things, but doesn't know the first thing about MM, as MJ is is only something she has read about in the papers and her doctor has RECOMMENDED it to her as medication for her pain and suffering.

Since most doctors know even less about MM than any of us (even less than a total noob like myself), the lady will be, essentially, on her own once he recommends MM and signs the ppwk for her to use it as medication.

If he/she is like 99% of the good folks I know that are my age and older, they will GO WITHOUT the MM because they are afraid of it, or they are afraid of all the MIS-information that they have been taught all these years by the G'ovt. It needs to be siimplified so a person in this position can feel "empowered" (yep, a $50 yuppie word) to step grow it and feel comfortable using it as their daily medicine along with traditional med's.

Most folks over 50 are into some type of gardening, especially ladies who by nature seem to enjoy indoor plants more than most men. So, she knows how to garden, but lacks the location or physical abiulities to get down and grub in the dirt any longer.

She still needs to find a supply of MM so she can aleviate the intense pain that will be in her present, or near future as her illness progresses.

The reality is that MM is is currently only to those able that can:

1. Can access a distribution location that is legal in their state

2. Able to grow their own MM

3. Have the financial ability to buy off the street, and a street vendor that can accommodate their specific strain requirements (odds are this is not likely)

#3 is, in my experienced position, a bad option at best. Buying off the street is not legal in the US, anywhere that I know of.

#1 is also a bad option in most states due as distribution is being squished by Uncle Bush and his buddies.

So, that leaves option #2, and this is where this "Basic Grow Kit" can come in handy for them.

It would need to include ALL of the basic essentials needed to do a small, medicinal grow, producing only 1-2 ounces monthly, max. By ALL I mean a small book to give the basic and most simple methods for seed germination, transplant, feeding, cloning their healthy gal, a "how to" guide with some common ailments MJ is prone to during growth, and all soils, nutes (or fluids if a Hydro system is considered easier), etc. Lights (CFL's?), fixtures and VERY EASY to follow directions for assembling a pre-made (some assembly required) grow box, grow tent or indoor planter set up.

Grow method is up for debate, and since idk-crap about growing methods as a whole, seems that this would be a good challenge to discuss the various, simply methods one could use for this type of grow.

It would most likely need to be indoor with low operating cost (CFL's).

The type of thing I am thinking of would be a prepacked kit, one they could go to any Hydro or garden store and order or pick up for approx. $200, can assemble it easily enough themselves or have a relative or neighbor assist them in assembly.

I am also thinking that any manufacturer of such a kit would have some level of "Customer Service" available for these folks to call into for help with the various tasks associated with their little MM grow.

Since my doc can prescribe a "Starter Kit" for a stop smoking (cigarette) medication, it would seem reasonable that once doctors knew of such a kit being available they could include that in a "recommendation" to the patient. Doc can prescribe (someday they will learn) 2 grams of XXXXXX smoked through a vaporizer, daily. Next line: "One MM Grow Starter Kit".

The object here is to make it as simple as possible for someone who has never used, seen, or considered MM as a medicine, but now has learned that it will be a needed part of their daily life if they plan to continue an active lifestyle for as long as possible.

They got to learn somehow, and in 99% of these cases these good folks just suffer, or take huge amounts of very addictive narcotic meds (oxycontin, etc.) when it could be avoided, or put off for a time while the MM controlls the pain, and they can still have a life.

I have no opinions on "what" type of grow system should be used this Starter Grow Kit, however please keep in mind that we have lots of space here to discuss what might be best suited for the older, totally inexperienced with MJ patient with a new requirement for MM, and is not afraid to learn something new, or in many cases adding a new kind of hosue plant that they will use for medicine.

Just to answer the yet to be asked question:

No, I have no intention of producing such a kit myself for commercial sale. I am thinking of the slightly older and much less experienced adult that has found they need the medicinal benefits of MM, but know little or nothing about what is required to grow it, nor do they have the time or physical abilities to search out all the needed components and assemble it all themselves.

This has got to be the "Acme MM Starter Kit", simple enough Wile E. Coyote could put it together and effecient enough to continue producing that 1-2 ounces monthly (with some after market purchases, as provided items in the initial supplied kit run low).

Hope the scenario makes sense.

If MM is as good a medication as we all know it can be, it needs to be available to ALL of the general public, and the ones that need it most are also the most likely to be in the "more ignorant than I was" crowd. Taking the "black magic" out of the growing would be essential for someone feeling comfortable enough to grow their own medicine with some level of success.

If anything in this "kit challenge" doesn't make sense, please ask. I think something like this will almost be a mandatory thing to be available in a short, few years ahead.

The Menarian

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Hey ISO2BWELL, I know what I am going to say, may step on some toes with my statements, but, if you take the time to think about what I am saying, you'll agree.

I do not believe you can grow in soil, using cfl's and get 2oz's a month.

A typical home setup, uses a 400 watt hps system, they veg for about one month, than flower for two, and in the end, the average yeild is about 7 oz's from this setup, typically.

The thought that you could equal or surpass it using cfl's, I don't buy it.
I also think you would do the patient a dis-service to set it up with cfl's than to have to replace them later with a hps light.

You could do better if you grew in hydro with cfl's.

HPS will give a better yeild, and so will a hydro grow. I believe that hydro would give the biggest boost in yeild, than the hps.

The thing is, watt for watt hps makes less heat than cfl's do.

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Ex-owner
Retired

Great Googly Moogly!

I was gone for a few hours, and figured this we would come home and the thread would already be 4 pages long with discussion...

Guess such a thing isn't feasable, or no one has figgered it out yet.

(Some) sick folks who don't know diddly about MM can be helped, likely a LOT, by MM, and WE are the folks that can at least bring some sanity to them about them finding a way to grow their own med's if no other alternative is offered to them. We all chat so much about the MM situation and legalities around the US, so when the laws DO CHANGE (and they will in time) "somebody" needs to be prepared with at least a basic offering that can help these folks. Crap, if the kits are cheap enough I'll put a few together and donate them to those that can't afford their own and really need it.

I would never do that until it was made legal to assist them in their state, however. ( I always figgered that if you are planning to do something in the public's eye, then it had by-God it best be legal when ya do it. Doesn't mean one can't at least be prepared to help when the day arrives. And it will, so long as folks don't give up the fight.

OK, so let's start with the basics, only.

Soil or Hydro? (from what little I have learned, hydro might be the easiest method for a home bound grower?)

I don't know, that's why I ask the question. If we can't figure this out with the decades of knowldge contained here, then what chance in hell has that sick, needing MM, 62 year old lady looking at chemo or a long term, very painful illness gonna have?

TM

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Thanks GP, we cross posted..damn good timing..;-)

Ok, so let's look at a CFL's and Hydro. I am afraid that too many older folks would not want to have the high heat of the MH (although the light might be good for many of them coem dreary winters).

I'm thinking of a system a person in a 5th floor apt. in Chicago might have a chance at success with. Hydro might be the easiest...no soil to mess with, and he/she can send the unwanted fluids down the drain. Much easier than them getting rid of soil (or repotting).

TM

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Could a smaller HPS be used, like maybe a 150W or in that range?

Small grow, small light?

Tm

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For the cost of operation vs. yield....I would go with a 400watt system. If ran 24 hours per day your cost is under $60 per month. With 2 thats under $120 per month.

One can be MH which is the best out there now for vegging. While the other can be an HPS which is the best out there now for flowering. Add a couple extra dollars per month for fans etc. and you're still well under $150 per month.

With the right program...you can have a constant supply of Cannabis. Learn to clone and you'll eventually have more bud than you can smoke if you're only growing for yourself.

Im highballing those #'s.

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Of course, they also make 250's too

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Ex-owner
Retired

Use ANY HID light..just stay in the 50 watts per sq ft range or above for bloom and keep the temps below 80 and granny will ROCK.

That is..if she can find good genetics. THAT is the true problem for most grannys...not that they can't plant a seed/grow a plant. My granny woulda had a Friggin' MONSTA BUSH in her yard if she woulda been growin' cannabis!

here sonny..toke this....

I think somewhere in here would be a place to bring up vaporizers too. Many people have breathing problems and inhaling mm could be a problem. Vaporizers could offer a valid way to ingest the marijuana without the problems associated with carbon, etc.

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What I freely have been given let me freely share

easy extractions could be made... anyone ever hear anymore about the thc glycerin drops (or is it glycerol? i dunno) that you could just slip one or two under the tongue...

i dunno... i like the various ways of ingesting this godsend...

I run a 400 HPS in closet grow rooms i build.. Need to move the air around though. I base all small or closet grow rooms around a 400 HPS.
Im a great fan of HPS.

Dont forget about the filter. Its going to get pretty smelly in there. You dont want the smell getting out. A simple oscillating fan fan hooked up to some ducting is cheap.Instead of a carbon filter, you use perfume balls.They use the perfume ball in sewage pump stations. They absorb odors like you wouldn't believe.Drop a bag or 2 of perfume balls into the end of the ducting that sits outside the room and place a stocking over the end of the ducting to keep the balls in. A little silver tape or plastic tie to hold the stocking on and your totally free of unwanted smells.
works a treat. Some of my mates use this setup.
Same thing with the intake fan. Use an oscillating fan to push air into the ducting and into your room. Large bit of ducting,cut a few of the wires and peel them out from the inside. Now it will wrap around a smaller ducting which goes into your room. Just use silver tape on the joins as that stuff will stick to anything. Intake and outlet prob solved and is very very cheap.
Sheets of Polly Styrene to line the walls is a cheap way to go. Great reflective surface with about 70-80% reflective capabilities, and doesnt fade and it doesnt matter if you scratch it. Still does the job well.
Dont need a fancy stand for your pot. cut down a milk crate. Very strong and will hold a great deal of weight.
get a couple of pots from your garden centre and have the runoff go into a tank or some container outside the room. this is good if you dont plan on using a automated watering system.just drill a small whole in the cupboard wall and make sure the pots a little higher than the runoff tank.
If you cant afford a new lighting setup, buy a second hand one. They go pretty cheap. Some people buy Hydro setups and cant grow for shite. They sell them cheap.

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When Injustice Becomes Law,Resistance Becomes Duty

http://www.bjjperth.com/music/Marlon Asher - Ganja Farmer.mp3