Ohana Grows: Teaching Your Family About Safe, Legal Cannabis Cultivation

Hawaii has always had a deep connection to the land 0 mālama ‘āina isn’t just a phrase, it’s a lifestyle. And for many families now cultivating legal cannabis at home, that connection is evolving into something new: growing medicine, knowledge, and respect from the same soil.

But how do you involve your family - especially kids or elders - in cannabis cultivation in a way that’s safe, legal, and culturally grounded? Whether you're teaching your teen how to mix soil or helping tūtū brew a topical, this guide walks you through how to grow as a family with intention and aloha.

1. Start with Education: Know the Law Together

Before anyone lifts a trowel or plants a seed, make sure the entire household understands Hawaii’s homegrow laws. Use it as a learning moment - not just about cannabis, but about civic responsibility.

Legal Basics (as of 2025):

• Adults 21 and over may grow up to four plants per household for personal use.
• Plants must be out of public view and secured.
• Cannabis may not be used by or shared with minors - even in private.
• Medical patients with cards can grow more (usually up to 10 plants), but they must be registered.

Family Learning Tip: Post a printed summary of these rules on your grow cabinet, greenhouse wall, or garage door so the law becomes part of the routine.

2. Assign Age-Appropriate Roles

Involving family doesn’t mean breaking laws - it means sharing responsibilities safely and legally.

For Keiki (Under 18):

• Can observe, ask questions, and learn about plant care in general terms
• May help water non-cannabis companion plants or prepare soil mixes
• Learn about biology, sustainability, and plant anatomy through observation

Keiki should never handle cannabis plants or products directly.

For Adults:

• Oversee all cultivation, security, and harvest
• Rotate grow roles: mixing compost, pruning, building trellises, and tracking growth
• Discuss cultural and historical uses of cannabis and other medicinal plants

Learning Tip: Use cannabis as a bridge into broader topics - herbal medicine, native plants, organic farming, or climate science.

3. Prioritize Safety and Boundaries

Treat your cannabis grow with the same boundaries you’d set for alcohol, prescription medication, or power tools.

Must-Haves:

• Lockable grow tents, cabinets, or fenced gardens
• Clearly marked areas that are off-limits to kids or visitors
• Proper labeling of jars, seeds, and tools
• Safe storage for all edibles, tinctures, or infused products

Pro Tip: Let your keiki decorate plant labels for companion herbs or build signs for “grown-up zones.” This keeps the vibe fun while reinforcing rules.

4. Teach Cannabis as a Plant - Not a Product

Kids and teens are going to hear about weed anyway - teach them the truth before TikTok or strangers do.

Emphasize:

• Cannabis is a medicinal plant that must be used responsibly
• Just like kava, ‘awa, or mamaki, it has traditional and modern applications
• It’s not a “bad drug,” but it’s not for kids, and it requires respect and knowledge to use correctly

Cultural Angle: Include stories or articles about Hawaii’s role in cannabis history - from Puna Budder to the Maui Wowie legacy.

5. Use Gardening Time as Ohana Time

Homegrowing can be a screen-free, tech-free, low-stress bonding ritual - especially for families looking to reconnect outdoors.

Shared Activities:

• Planting or watering companion plants
• Making compost together
• Tracking plant height and writing a “grow journal”
• Listening to Hawaiian music while you check on the garden

Pro Tip: Grow Hawaiian herbs like ‘alaea, ti leaf, basil, or kalo nearby. It reinforces the idea that your cannabis grow is part of a larger backyard ecosystem.

6. Celebrate the Harvest - Respectfully

When harvest time arrives, make it a moment. You don’t need to involve the whole family in trimming, but you can still honor the process together.

Ideas:

• Make a lei or small altar with flowers and herbs grown alongside your cannabis
• Cook a family dinner using vegetables or herbs from the same garden
• Talk about what you’ve learned that season, and what you’d like to grow next

Teaching cannabis as part of holistic health and family wellness reduces stigma and deepens cultural grounding.

Cannabis is more than a plant. In Hawaii, it’s an opportunity to teach responsibility, science, self-reliance, and respect for the land. By involving your family in safe, age-appropriate ways, you’re not just growing bud - you’re growing future stewards of the ‘āina. Teach with patience. Grow with purpose. Pass it on with aloha.

We’re Homegrow Helpline, here to help Hawaii residents grow cannabis at home legally, sustainably, and with heart. We believe in empowering you with the tools and resources to grow smarter, safer, and with deep cultural respect.