Growing your own CBD – It's now legal

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the cannabinoids from the hemp plant, has experienced a real boom in recent years. And not without reason: CBD has relaxing, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects – without being psychoactive. So, CBD doesn't get you "high." Research is also keenly investigating CBD as a candidate for treating a wide range of conditions, such as sleep disorders or chronic pain.

Of course, you can buy CBD flowers or CBD in the form of oils and creams. But wouldn't the more natural (and cheaper) way be to simply grow CBD yourself? After all, growing up to three plants on the windowsill for personal use has been legal in Germany since 2024.

This article is therefore entirely about growing CBD hemp at home. What am I allowed to do, what things do I need to consider to ensure my plants thrive, and most importantly: Can I ensure that my home-grown weed contains as little THC as possible?

A hemp plant contains approximately 100 different so-called cannabinoids. One of them: cannabidiol or CBD for short. Unlike the better-known THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) with its intoxicating effect, CBD is not psychoactive. Instead, numerous studies have shown that it relieves pain, inhibits inflammation, calms, and improves general well-being. (1) (2)

However, a hemp plant is not a laboratory product. Every cannabis plant contains various cannabinoids – not always all of them, but usually many different ones. The choice of strain influences which cannabinoids are present and in what proportion, but other factors, such as location, also play a role.

Here lies the big problem: The THC content is difficult to control in private cannabis cultivation. This can mean that your home-grown CBD weed does have psychoactive effects, even if you didn't intend it to.

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In Germany, until 2024, cannabis cultivation was only permitted for scientific and commercial purposes – home cultivation on the windowsill was completely prohibited. The THC content in the final product was also irrelevant. This strict regulation sometimes led to difficult situations, e.g., when scattered birdseed (containing hemp seeds) in an allotment garden started to sprout, and a neighbor informed the police.

Fortunately, the situation has now eased somewhat. On April 1, 2024, the then federal government legalized cultivation for personal use within certain limits. According to the law, adults over 18 years of age can now grow up to three flowering female cannabis plants per person in their own household – provided they are exclusively for personal consumption. Possession and consumption of cannabis are also legal to a certain extent, which also greatly simplifies the cultivation and acquisition of CBD-rich cannabis.

However, there are still some restrictions. For example, the plants must not be visibly grown in public and must be protected from access by children and young people. Passing on, exchanging, or selling home-grown hemp remains strictly prohibited.

It is completely irrelevant how much THC will be contained in the finished plant. Even industrial hemp (with less than 0.2-0.3% THC), which is grown for clothing and similar purposes, is subject to these restrictions in the private sphere.

It also becomes tricky if your cultivation project goes particularly well: A maximum of 50 g of cannabis is allowed for private individuals (regardless of the THC content). A cannabis plant grown outdoors yields about 20 to 30 g of dried cannabis. With three plants, the permitted maximum amount per person is quickly exceeded.

Besides legal issues, CBD enthusiasts also ask themselves: Can I grow cannabis that contains as little to no THC as possible to avoid psychoactive effects?

Basically, CBD-rich hemp varieties are available for purchase. You can either get special CBD cannabis seeds or opt for seedlings directly. The problem: without a home lab, you cannot control how much THC your plant actually develops. In practice, the actual THC content depends on many factors besides the strain: sunlight, stress on the plant, soil conditions, or harvest time.

Therefore, you must always expect that your home-grown flowers contain more THC than expected. You should always keep this in mind when consuming cannabis and, for example, carefully observe how you feel after consumption. Avoid activities that could endanger others or yourself (e.g., driving). People with an increased risk of psychosis should also not use home-grown cannabis!

A crucial point in growing CBD hemp is the seeds. Those who want to be sure should opt for varieties that are officially classified as industrial hemp – ideally on the EU variety list. These varieties have been tested to ensure they have a stably low THC content under agricultural conditions.

The problem: Private individuals cannot easily buy these seeds in Germany. The purchase is generally only intended for agricultural businesses – minimum purchase quantities are correspondingly large. In addition, you need feminized seeds to reliably obtain female plants that contain CBD.

If you take "normal" seeds, you have a 50% chance of getting male plants. You would therefore have to grow many more plants and later dispose of them to comply with the legal framework and ensure that pollination does not occur. This reduces the CBD content.

Another difficulty: industrial hemp often still contains many other cannabinoids that can have positive effects, but not necessarily. You can never be sure whether sufficient amounts of CBD are present. Some online shops therefore offer so-called "CBD seeds" in smaller quantities and claim that the THC content safely remains below a certain percentage.

However, in addition to the problem described above that it doesn't just depend on the strain, official information and evidence for THC stability or seed origin are often lacking here.

A safer choice could be cultivation associations/Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs). Since July 2024, they have been allowed to supply plants and cuttings to their members and are subject to strict requirements regarding strain selection and quality assurance. In most clubs, you can also get CBD-rich varieties.

Growing CBD hemp on the windowsill or in the garden can be a very enjoyable hobby. However, if you want to achieve the maximum positive effect with a CBD product, ready-made CBD products are probably the better option. Here's a quick overview of both options:

Anyone who opts for home cultivation should know: hemp is a demanding plant. In addition to expert knowledge about nutrients, light cycles, humidity, and pest control, it primarily requires patience and sensitivity.

The location plays a central role: outdoors, the plants need plenty of sun and sheltered areas, while indoor cultivation requires sophisticated lighting and ventilation systems.

CBD hemp thrives best in:

• plenty of sunlight

• well-drained soil

• sheltered from wind

• with constant temperatures (18–28 °C)

Indoor cultivation is also possible, but requires:

• lighting systems (electricity consumption!)

• ventilation and odor filters (to avoid disturbing neighbors)

• humidity and temperature control

Loose, nutrient-rich soil is ideal. Alternatively, pre-fertilized soil for tomatoes or herbs is also suitable. Hemp requires:

• Nitrogen (growth phase)

• Phosphorus and Potassium (flowering phase)

• Sufficient but not excessive water supply

Regular monitoring is mandatory:

• Removal of pests (spider mites, aphids)

• Prevention of mold (especially in high humidity)

• Thinning out if growth is too dense

Also important: harvest time. If harvested too late, the THC content of all cannabis varieties can be much higher than planned. Recognizing the ideal harvest time requires experience and, ideally, laboratory analysis.

Since the partial legalization in April 2024, the cultivation of CBD varieties, in addition to cannabis consumption and cultivation of THC-rich varieties, has become much easier. However, the restrictions for cultivation are always the same: no more than three female plants per adult and other legal requirements (e.g., privacy screens).

Furthermore, cultivation involves some uncertainties: especially the THC content can hardly be controlled at home. Although certain varieties generally contain little THC, factors such as light, nutrient supply, or harvest time can unpredictably influence the THC value. Those who want to consume CBD to achieve targeted relaxing or pain-relieving effects without risking a psychoactive effect are usually better off with tested products.

In addition, access to high-quality, feminized seeds is still difficult for private individuals. Cultivation associations can be an alternative here, but are still being established in many places.

Medical Disclaimer