How Can Researchers Support Cannabis Sativa L. Home Growers? Investigating Homegrown C. Sativa Horticulture and Defining Best Practices

The legalization of recreational Cannabis sativa L. in Canada allows citizens to grow four C. sativa plants per household for personal use. Although Cannabis sativa is widely cultivated by home growers, there are gaps in the published literature on what growing practices citizens use and what yields they achieve. The purpose of this thesis is to define the horticultural practices of C. sativa home growers and observe how their methods influence plant outcomes. In my first study, I collaborated with C. sativa home growers to describe their cultivar preferences, horticultural practices, and yields. In my second study, I used meta-analysis to identify the optimal lengths of time to switch between vegetative to flowering lighting to maximize C. sativa yields. This thesis not only provides creative ways to study the homegrown C. sativa culture, but also provides evidence-informed data to lead future decisions on Canadian C. sativa horticulture, research, and policy.