I am wondering how one would go about growing for a collective or co-op? I am not wanting to start one or anything but would like to have a medium in which to sell my medicine consistently while still providing a fair service to patients. How hard is this to start? I had been growing in fear of the law for many years now in a midwestern state and have saved enough cash to make a move to be legit. Any info is appreciated and I am sure this sort of question has been asked a million times, but I still cant find an answer to this question. Most people want to know how to start one of their own- Im being realistic and I realize that this isnt to feasible for a newcomer in the state.
Growing for a collective/co-op
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Dan Kone
Well-Known Member
Pretty fucking hard actually. The gold rush has ended. But if you have true top shelf bud, you'll always be able to get rid of it. Getting rid of anything below top shelf is extremely difficult. And when I'm talking about top shelf, I'm talking about California top shelf, not what passes for top shelf anywhere else. It's extremely competitive here and you won't make enough to survive unless your bud is flawless. If you're confident in your ability to produce large quantities of flawless indoor, then go for it. If not, have a backup plan.
For sure, I am aware of the quality required in California and also of the competition. I also am aware that product goes cheap compared to black market prices. Is it not like this in any medical state though? Even in Michigan ounces are only going for 200 or less directly to the patient from a caregiver. I guess what I was wondering- and I may be confused on the subject- is if there is a difference between growing for a dispensary and being hired on or a member of a co-op/collective in so far as ease of sale since you are already a member or what not. Is the price they pay different? I thought I had read that some collectives pay a sort of 'salary' to their growers?
d.s.m.
Well-Known Member
In the end, what it comes down to is, it's all about who you know, and getting in with the right folks. Just like the old days.
I got lucky in that I have a good friend who hooked me up with some extra work trimming in the fall, up in the hills. And from sitting around that table with ten other people, head down, mouth shut, working those scissors as fast as I could, always with band-aids on a few fingers from where I missed and trimmed myself, I gradually got to know some people, and gradually went from being hired help to having some involvement in things.
God I hate trimming. And I still snip myself.
Dan Kone
Well-Known Member
There are no ounces in vending here, only pounds.
In Cali you're a member of every collective you walk in. You show your pound to the buyer, he looks at it apathetically, then asks you for a price, sighs when you tell him, then he agrees if he likes it or lowballs you if he doesn't like it. You either accept his offer or go somewhere else. It's that simple. Employees at the clubs are just the bud tenders, receptionists, etc. Not the growers except in special circumstances.
Only clubs that grow in house. Very rare. That's not how it's done 99.9% of the time.
Let me interject that the quality and price has gone down in the past couple of years. The collectives are trying to compete with the street/craigslist price. It is very rare to find true top shelf in most places. If you have something unique, very good, well trimmed. They will buy it. Don't settle for consignment. I recently got $2800 for a lb cash where as a couple years it would've been over $3k
NoGutsGrower
Well-Known Member
Very well said! I started as a trimmer as well! you just got to get to know people!
I've had a few nasty cuts! Look away to talk to someone and SNIP there goes a chunk of skin!
SativaMe@420
Well-Known Member
I'm in NorCal and all the dispensaries owners Ive spoken with say that anyone, AS LONG AS THEY ARE LEGAL, can grow and sell to the clubs, however, like others have said if you want to get a fair price for it then it had better be good quality buds. They will scrutinize your shit with a microscope and sometimes even send a sample in to a lab to have a battery of tests done to determine quality, thc %, molds, fungus and other contaminants and if it doesn't meet a certain criteria they won't buy it. One way to ensure a club will buy your bud is to find out what strains are the rarest and most coveted in your area, example: here in NorCal most of the dispensaries are usually stocked with lots of Blue Dream, White Widow, Sour Diesel, Afghan Kusk, Purple Kush, Train Wreck, and that's just to name a few, however, Woody Kush on the other hand Ive only found at one Collective here in NorCal so If you grew that and it turned out great I can guarantee you'll sell it and at a decent price to because the club won't want you to take it somewhere else. Woody Kush is just one strain that is rare around here, I'm sure if you did some research you would find a few other strains the clubs are lacking in and don't forget you can sell clones to the clubs also, especially the rare in your area strains.
Also, just FYI if your tired of cramped fingers from trimming using scissors there is the Ardvark which is a trimmer that you attach to a vacuum and trims MUCH FASTER & EASIER than standard clippers, however at around $500-$600 its not cheap so if you can't afford that (like me, lol) then you could get something like the FlowBee or even make one of your own which is what I'm going to try. The design and principal seems easy enough to "Macgyver" something similar from stuff around the house or a quick & cheap trip to the hardware store. I mean all it really is is a vacuum attachment with a razor blade carefully placed inside the intake valve so when the leaf gets sucked in you flip your wrist and the razor cuts it, very effective but a relatively simple design also, makes me wonder why they charge so much for it????
Also, just FYI if your tired of cramped fingers from trimming using scissors there is the Ardvark which is a trimmer that you attach to a vacuum and trims MUCH FASTER & EASIER than standard clippers, however at around $500-$600 its not cheap so if you can't afford that (like me, lol) then you could get something like the FlowBee or even make one of your own which is what I'm going to try. The design and principal seems easy enough to "Macgyver" something similar from stuff around the house or a quick & cheap trip to the hardware store. I mean all it really is is a vacuum attachment with a razor blade carefully placed inside the intake valve so when the leaf gets sucked in you flip your wrist and the razor cuts it, very effective but a relatively simple design also, makes me wonder why they charge so much for it????
SativaMe@420
Well-Known Member
Oh yea, Ive actually heard of this before, there are groups within certain collectives that if they find you eligible they will completely or partially fund the grow in return for a % of the harvest, this allows people who are on a budget who would normally not be able to get into this industry to get started and it increases the supply of the collective, a win win for everyone it seems. If my current plans on the table fall through then this could be a back up for me, I'll have to ask around local collectives and see who's offering what, thanks for the reminder as I totally forgot about this.
d.s.m.
Well-Known Member
What the fuck?
SativaMe@420
Well-Known Member
What part of my post did you not understand or disagree with?
yes clubs do do that .......but my story is diffrent on how became the grower for there club
withoutAchance
Active Member
If u can buy u can sell in cali the hole law idea of a coop collwctive. Pay according to quality any grade will sale just have to. Find the right club and take the price . And remember u pay taxes at the end of the year so like 40% is gone for that.