Written by the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana (SAMM):

The following guidelines are provided to assist physician-approved patients and caregivers in determining an appropriate amount of marijuana that may be reasonably cultivated for medical use under California Health and Safety Code 11362.5. These guidelines are based on: Cannabis Yields 1992, US DEA/NIDA; the jury decision in People v. Mac Farlane; and a survey of medical marijuana cultivators.

Unless advised otherwise, the approved patient who has not yet discussed dosage with a physician may consider three and a half grams per day (approximately three pounds per year) a reasonable amount for personal medical use. Patients who require more than three pounds per year should consult their physician and document their usage.

SAMM encourages all patients to record their usage with their physician and match their garden yield with their documented usage.

OUTDOOR CULTIVATION: Plants whose canopies fill an area covering one hundred square feet can yield approximately three pounds of usable marijuana per year.

INDOOR CULTIVATION: Plants flowering under one thousand watts of light can yield approximately one half to one pound of usable marijuana per harvest. It is possible to produce three harvests per year.

These yields can be realized regardless of the number of plants located under each one hundred square feet of plant canopy outdoors or each thousand-watt light. This assumes a full season harvest with no loss to pests, disease, theft, or inexperience. If cultivating as a cooperative, simply ensure the combined square footage (outdoors) or wattage (indoors) is consistent with these guidelines.

While light, not plant numbers, is the more significant determining factor in plant yield, Federal sentencing is based upon number of plants. Accordingly, if your plant numbers exceed one hundred plants at any one time, you should consult an attorney.

Physician-approved patients with SCMA Peer Review should expect law enforcement to honor these guidelines and leave their plants unharmed. Physician-approved patients who do not have SCMA Peer Review should expect law enforcement to follow existing Sheriff's guidelines, which require they leave the plants, take photos to preserve evidence, and validate physician approval (which requires patient release of information).