so I'm interested in seeing replies from those with expertise. Off the top of my head, I'd say that the growing season in upstate NY is long enough to bring plants to maturity, but I question whether it'd be of a good grade. From what I've read, hydroponics is the best way to go, although start-up costs must be taken into account. The higher-grade harvest, however, would offset those costs and generate higher profits in the long run.

You'd probably want faster-flowering varieties, so they are mature by late September/early October. Once the first frost comes, your outdoor crop is over. You have to harvest before that.

But you can grow excellent weed up there. It mostly depends on the genetics. Start with good seeds or clones, give them food, water, and sunlight, and you'll do fine.

Hydroponics is an indoor thing. It's not dependent on the seasons. But sunlight is free; setting up a grow room and paying for the electricity for high-wattage lights isn't.

And until it is reclassified will be a risky business. In Colorado the regs are in the development stage. Anyone getting into the business better have legal counsel and jump through every hoop. Growing for personal consumption and growing for resale are 2 different things. The resale market is/will be very competitive, one better know what they are doing to raise a marketable product.

Needed regulations are coming. ..right now it is sort of a free for all.

Feds need to change their practices before I would go there.

Until the feds stand down, i'll let somebody else take the risk, or at least I'll wait to see what happens to others. The horror stories from legal growers in CA are numerous.

They do all the work - customize it to fit your needs.
Indoors or out ....

From the mildly high city.

Or lack of love for marijuana.

Because I happen to be severely allergic to it -- hives and anaphylaxis aren't fun. (OTOH, I now have an epi-pen. Yay, legalization!)

If I weren't, I probably would, because I have a very green hydroponics thumb and I enjoy plants. I could not care less about the psychoactives -- my brain is perfectly weird just as it is, TYVM -- but strain development interests me, and it's an area that needs deeper scientific research.

Illinois passed a medical marijuana law last year, and it's quite stringent in all its aspects. There will be only 22 legal "cultivation centers" permitted in the state, and to get a permit appears pretty complex and costly:

For medical marijuana cultivation centers, the Department of Agriculture proposed a $25,000 application fee, proof of $250,000 in liquid assets, payment of $200,000 upon approval of a permit and an annual renewal fee of $100,000. $200,000 in an escrow account is also required pre-licensing.

http://dispensarypermits.com/blog/2014/02/13/illinois-officials-release-dispensary-and-cultivation-center-requirements/

legally in the state of Montana. It is for my own consumption and no I would not do it commercially mainly because of the Feds right now. I can legally bud 4 plants at a time. I grow outdoors and the plants get huge. By October the weather is getting bad but they are really not ready to harvest just yet so some nights I cover them with tarps. Usually a warming spell for a couple weeks and they are ready. I probably get 6-8 pounds I don't know. If I have some left from the previous year I just toss is on the garden. I refuse to sell to anyone.

You smoke a half-pound a month?

with cannabis. Actually ingesting cooked cannabis works better than smoked for my neuropathy. But still I do smoke lots of the stuff. And you would never know it. I have a tolerance and don't get impaired. Just like the prescription of hydrocodone.

We are voting for full legalization in November. Since Alaska is alleged to have the most pot smokers per capita of any state in the union, something like 16% of adults, it should easily pass.

My attempting to grow marijuana would either result in every plant in the U.S. or it would grow as wild as dandelions

From what I am reading from the states legalizing for medical use...you have to

1. Have been in the nursery business 10 years with the nurseryman certification.
2. Pay an initial growers bond of $100000 dollars

And

3. If you meet criteria 1 and 2 you then enter a blind lottery where the chamber of commerce supposedly "randomly" wink wink selects the winners of the few growers licenses available...

I could be wrong this could just what is being proposed as the rules before its legal to grow for profit...or just more internet memes...

Sounds like a typical 1% big pharma wet dream...make it so only the wealthy corporates can grow for profit.

It's all very interesting. I don't think we will be growing it.

If Indiana would legalize it I would grow enough for my personal use in my outdoor garden.