How to grow marijuana at home? It's surprisingly easy but may be illegal where you live

Many states permit residents to grow marijuana for their personal use, and we decided to look at just how easy it is to grow cannabis -- known as pot or weed -- at home.

With so many Americans now living in states where it’s legal to grow marijuana for their own use, we wanted to show the basics of cannabis cultivation, with help from the experts at Colorado’s Organic Alternatives.

As of March 1, Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada and Vermont have legalized recreational marijuana use, as has the District of Columbia. The exact rules vary in each state, so it's best to check with your local regulators. And of course it's also good to remember that marijuana possession remains entirely illegal under federal law.

In this attached video, you’ll see a pot plant go from a cutting to a mature bush in about four months, along with an explanation of the basics of growing this “weed,” which our expert says is actually really easy.

"It's not difficult at all. Essentially you're growing a weed," says Kirk Scramstead, a growing expert for Organic Alternatives. "It's a super easy plant to grow."

Organic Alternatives grows high-quality marijuana at its facility in Fort Collins, Colo., and each plant can generate about 4 ounces of smokeable cannabis flowers. Scramstead said amateur growers can't expect such a high yield, but people with a green thumb could expect similar results if they take time and care in their growing.

While Scamstead said a pot plant will grow just fine outside with regular watering, enthusiasts are willing to spend thousands of dollars on special lights, fertilizer and irrigation systems to ensure a consistent crop. There's even companies selling self-contained growing cabinets, which make the process even easier.

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