NEVER GROWING UP –
WHY GROWERS STAY UNDERGROUND
Expanded legalization efforts have made
it possible to make a living growing cannabis
for profit -- provided, that is, that you obtain a
license to grow professionally, which subjects
you state regulations and can potentially set you
back quite a bit of money. This is a sticking
point for some growers, who started their ca-
reers growing underground and don’t see any
reason to change now. We wondered what it is
that makes the threat of prosecution under con-
tinued prohibition worth the risk, so we talked to
an expert to see what the draw is.
Our source, who we’ll call Kevin (not his
real name), has been growing marijuana under-
ground for over 20 years. “I love marijuana,”
he says with an obvious affection in his voice.
“Just smoking it … I was always fascinated
by it … I was always obsessed with it” Kevin
started in high school by growing marijuana in
his parents’ backyard, without their knowledge.
He then began growing indoors when he moved
into his first house at age 24.
What began in a garage moved to ware-
houses, then to entire buildings devoted to his
grow op. He moved his product, but things re-
ally took off when Prop 215 passed in California
20 NUGL Magazine
and dispensaries began to open underground.
It was those first dispensaries that helped Kev-
in’s career take flight.
Kevin has considered himself a legitimate
grower since he started selling his product to
those original dispensaries and realized they
liked what he was growing. “When they started
purchasing my product and would call me for
more, that’s when I felt like I was legit, like I’m
doing something right, like I could take it to the
next level.” Kevin had achieved consistency
in his product, and people were taking notice.
He’s maintained that consistency, and to great
success, too: “The lifestyle is great,” he admits,
and he looks like he means it.
Perhaps this sense of accomplishment is
part of the reason Kevin hasn’t felt a need to
go “legit” in the eyes of the law. He’s knows
his work is good, he trusts his methods, and he
doesn’t feel that the drawbacks of getting his
grower’s license are worth that extra layer of
“legitimacy.” The fact is, he’s already making a
living doing this, and getting a grower’s license
doesn’t offer him any tangible benefit, at least
not the way he sees it.