Know your legislation
Although cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance in the eyes of the federal government, [intlink id="137" type="page"]state laws regarding cannabis cultivation[/intlink] and distribution are loosening from coast to coast. Before you plant a single seed, be sure you educate yourself thoroughly on the cannabis legislation in your state, particularly if you plan to distribute the cannabis you grow.

A reputable source like NORML is a good place to start.

Once you figure out what is legal in your state, you’ll have a better idea of who might be willing and able to buy the cannabis you plan to grow.

Primary Caregivers
In many states, in order to become a provider of medicinal cannabis, you have to become a primary caregiver. In many states, primary caregivers can grow, transport, and provide cannabis to patients suffering from serious medical conditions.

If you are growing cannabis legally in the United States, you are either going to supply the primary caregivers or you are going to become a primary caregiver yourself.

Luckily, becoming a primary caregiver is very simple: all you need is an oral or written agreement between you and the patient or patients to whom you will be administering care.

Although in most states you do not have to register or document this agreement in any way with the state, many states require that primary caregivers have their patients provide ID or documentation from their prescribing physician that qualifies them as a medicinal cannabis patient.

Network before you grow
In states where medicinal cannabis is legal, it is also legal for dispensaries and primary caregivers to advertise their services. This is a great opportunity for you as a grower to meet people who might want to buy your cannabis.

In order to keep your operation focused and profitable, it is ideal to have a buyer in mind for every crop of cannabis you grow. Meeting with dispensary directors or primary caregivers before you grow can also help you get an idea of what strain or strains you should be growing.

If a caregiver or patient needs a particular strain of cannabis and you can fill that need, you are more likely to be able to sell your cannabis.

Advertising can also help you build a client base if you wish to be a primary caregiver, but be careful which patients you choose to accept. Choose clients you know you can trust to pay on-time, be discreet about your agreement, and take the proper legal and medical precautions.

Being a primary caregiver is not a typical merchant-customer relationship, each party involved has something very valuable at stake. Always be sure that you and your buyers have gone through all the proper channels to protect yourselves from potential legal trouble.

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