5 ms·

I don't believe it will be quite the same. Big Tobacco really profits off the fact that most people can't grow tobacco year round, and thus must purchase it at

I don't believe it will be quite the same. Big Tobacco really profits off the fact that most people can't grow tobacco year round, and thus must purchase it at some point throughout the year. That basic fact is what ensures those companies never die. Tobacco was always grown outdoors, and there was never a need to research how to cultivate it clandestinely, be it indoors or small numbers. On the other hand, pot can be grown in a computer case or a closet. It's been bred for almost 100 years (maybe more) to be grown out of sight and out of mind. Given a very small amount of research and learning, almost anyone on the face of this planet can grow a marijuana plant. It's called "weed" for a reason. edit: In other words, it's not exactly the same thing as what big tobacco was doing, which is marketing products on a mass scale, all the while knowing the kind of health damage that such products caused. That is what people had problems with.

throwaway1982 13y ago
As far as easy to grow, I don't know, I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but it's been pretty darn hard for me. Then if you start talking about real quality, as far as I've seen from some documentaries, it requires a lot of dedication and knowledge to get the kind of quality that I'd smoke consistently. I guess my point is, practically speaking, I see 99% of people still buying it even if it's totally legalized and not taboo.
- joelhooks 13y ago
  It's basically like brewing beer. It's a skill with labor, knowledge, and experience required to get the desired output. Outdoor requires less moving parts. Still a lot of variables, especially considering you can drive to the store and have your pick ;)
- tsotha 13y ago
  I agree with this. You might be able to grow your own stuff with mediocre success, but most people will be a) too lazy to put in the effort and b) interested in higher quality and more variety than the backyard plot (or closet) is likely to produce. You can grow your own tomatoes, too, but most people don't, and even those that do usually recover from the gardening bug after two or three seasons. Also, I expect commercial growers will start using GMO and hybrids. You may in fact be unable to grow your favorite variety of pot because you can't get ahold of viable seeds for the strain you want.
greghinch 13y ago
I can brew my own beer relatively easily in the comfort of my own home, for the final price of less than $1 per beer in ingredients. I still buy much more beer at the store than I brew.
- joelhooks 13y ago
  The point being that you have the option without facing felony conviction for exercising the option.
- chc 13y ago
  The point is not that there won't be a thriving marijuana industry because you can grow your own, but that the industry will not necessarily share the evils of the tobacco industry. The beer industry is a good example. It's nowhere near as powerful or nefarious as Big Tobacco, and in fact the phrase "Big Beer" doesn't doesn't even exist. Beer companies tend to be fairly benign, while the tobacco industry is famous for stunts like marketing cigarettes to kids and trying to suppress anything that suggests their products are harmful or addictive. So if the marijuana industry turns out like the beer industry, that will be a pretty good outcome, really.
  - JohnTHaller 13y ago
    Well, except for the whole distribution wars thing where there's this antiquated and unnecessary system of middle men that you must use by law and are used to keep the big players big and lock out the newcomers.
  - DanBC 13y ago
    Alcohol companies in the UK have a sleazy reputation - marketin to under 18s; creating Vertical Drinking Establishments; selling alcohol at below cost; etc. Any public health measures are rigorously campaigned against. The all-party parliamentary beer group receives funding from the alcohol trade. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/beer.htm http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/regis... (What's the largest uk appg?)
  - girvo 13y ago

throwaway1982 13y ago

As far as easy to grow, I don't know, I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but it's been pretty darn hard for me. Then if you start talking about real quality, as far as I've seen from some documentaries, it requires a lot of dedication and knowledge to get the kind of quality that I'd smoke consistently. I guess my point is, practically speaking, I see 99% of people still buying it even if it's totally legalized and not taboo.

joelhooks 13y ago
It's basically like brewing beer. It's a skill with labor, knowledge, and experience required to get the desired output. Outdoor requires less moving parts. Still a lot of variables, especially considering you can drive to the store and have your pick ;)
tsotha 13y ago
I agree with this. You might be able to grow your own stuff with mediocre success, but most people will be a) too lazy to put in the effort and b) interested in higher quality and more variety than the backyard plot (or closet) is likely to produce. You can grow your own tomatoes, too, but most people don't, and even those that do usually recover from the gardening bug after two or three seasons. Also, I expect commercial growers will start using GMO and hybrids. You may in fact be unable to grow your favorite variety of pot because you can't get ahold of viable seeds for the strain you want.

greghinch 13y ago

I can brew my own beer relatively easily in the comfort of my own home, for the final price of less than $1 per beer in ingredients. I still buy much more beer at the store than I brew.

joelhooks 13y ago
The point being that you have the option without facing felony conviction for exercising the option.
chc 13y ago
The point is not that there won't be a thriving marijuana industry because you can grow your own, but that the industry will not necessarily share the evils of the tobacco industry. The beer industry is a good example. It's nowhere near as powerful or nefarious as Big Tobacco, and in fact the phrase "Big Beer" doesn't doesn't even exist. Beer companies tend to be fairly benign, while the tobacco industry is famous for stunts like marketing cigarettes to kids and trying to suppress anything that suggests their products are harmful or addictive. So if the marijuana industry turns out like the beer industry, that will be a pretty good outcome, really.
- JohnTHaller 13y ago
  Well, except for the whole distribution wars thing where there's this antiquated and unnecessary system of middle men that you must use by law and are used to keep the big players big and lock out the newcomers.
- DanBC 13y ago
  Alcohol companies in the UK have a sleazy reputation - marketin to under 18s; creating Vertical Drinking Establishments; selling alcohol at below cost; etc. Any public health measures are rigorously campaigned against. The all-party parliamentary beer group receives funding from the alcohol trade. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/beer.htm http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/regis... (What's the largest uk appg?)
- girvo 13y ago