well Inkjunkie as you know I too live in a medical marijuana approved state and have a medical marijuana card only because my doctor who is a nurse practitioner insisted on it because I will not participate in any form of pharmaceutical drugs. Between doctors and hospitals, I don't know which kills more persons as more then half the doctors haven't a clue to what drug interferes with what drug and that's where a nurse practitioner or a pharmacist comes into play in my life. I've smoked the herb since 63 and now with this card am able to either grow or give my card to a provider who in turn will give me any number of ways to indulge, from the herb itself to rubs like Burt's Bee's for my arthritic pain to edibles as well as butter. On the other end I have been known to some to grow both indoors and out and have designed and built a grow station called the Reppertron which was shown at the Horticultural show in Vancouver BC with great success some years back.
I find that good herb is great to lessen pain in many applications and now since I'm legal so to speak, I'm at a standstill because most of my grows were big and at my age I've stopped. An indoor grow can yield as much as a pound per plant grown forcibly using 1 HID thousand watt per plant but needing H2O, a charcoal filter system and either A/C or a water cooled light set-up and to do less of a grow to me almost isn't worth it because of the costs of any hydroponic system. Its almost like the saying, go big or go home.
Your friend in the business may know a provider or he himself may be your provider when your card is issued, and this would lessen your chances of screwing up so to speak when you and your wife has to close down when on vacation which could be in the middle of its cycle or before its harvest. All of what I have mentioned doesn't all pertain to you but even a small grow takes time to learn and to do it correctly costs money. A seed could cost as much as ten dollars for a great strain and growing six plants needs at least a twelve hour light cycle. Among other things the room has to be well insulated and bug free, there are fans as well to make the plants believe they are at home in their environment as they yield their product.
If I sound like someone who is talking you out of growing more then someone who wants you to grow its because I feel you must be dedicated and I know somewhat of where your priorities lay. Between your car and home, your pain and whatever else you've got going on, it seems you've got your hands full and this will take up even more time and the same goes for me. We are car and family people and are priorities are what they are.
I say think all this over and when you get your card, get a provider first as you can always change it from client to grower.
In my home I've always smoked through a water pipe as the vaporizer isn't only expensive but it takes time between tokes to warm up and the water pipe can use wine or juice as well
to give it a flavor as well as relieve the harshness.
I know the herb has helped me through many a day or night in one way or another and whatever you decide will be the correct decision.
An outdoor grow is a whole different ballgame needing only sunshine and water and a safe spot to grow, a few vitamins and time from April to October, six plants can yield your yearly intake plus more
