Professional w/ stable income looking to build a legit side hustle in cannabis—worth it if I start small + smart. I know this question must get posted often - please read post before jumping all over me.

I’m a full-time dentist in San Diego, California. I make a decent living, but to be honest, I’m burnt out. The job is demanding, stressful, and doesn’t align with how I actually want to live. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to pivot into something more organic—literally and figuratively.

I’ve always loved being around nature and working with my hands. I’ve grown a couple plants outdoors for personal use (very small scale, nothing fancy), and I found the process surprisingly grounding and rewarding. That sparked the idea: what if I could build a real small-scale grow as a side hustle? Not just for fun, but something I could take seriously, grow slowly, and maybe scale over time.

Not looking to get rich quick or cut corners—I’ve got a stable income, so I’m not in a rush. But I’d love to create something I’m proud of that could eventually let me cut back on dentistry and live a little closer to the land.

That said, I know the market is saturated and tough. I also know there are a lot of people in this space who’ve been grinding for years, and I’m not trying to be just another dude with money jumping in because it sounds cool. I genuinely want to learn and do this right.

So for those of you in the game:

Is it still realistically possible to build a profitable small grow in California without millions in capital or a distribution empire behind you?

• If I start with a smaller craft model (organic, high-quality flower), what kind of startup costs am I looking at if I want to go fully compliant?
• What’s a realistic income range for a side hustle grow that’s done right over a few years?
• Where can I learn the actual business side of this? I’m down to take courses, shadow people, whatever.
• Are there any parts of the market that still have space? Niche areas, partnerships, medical supply, anything like that?

I’m open to tough love or blunt truths. Just trying to figure out if this is worth pursuing or just a fantasy. I have the work ethic, some capital, and no illusions that this is easy—but I also don’t want to spend the next 20 years grinding in a field that’s draining me.

If you’ve got any insight, resources, mentorship leads, or ideas on where to start—I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance. Respect to all of you actually doing it.