Why HWGrow Became Independent of YouTube and Patreon

Here is the short version: HWGrow became independent because years of work could disappear whenever a platform changed a rule, restricted an account or decided that legal home-grow education was “harmful.” YouTube helped people find the channel, but it could never be the only place where the full library lived.

This is the longer story—what happened, why it was personal and what moving the videos to HowWeedGrow.com means for you.

The warning signs came before the channel removal

Before 2023, videos were already being flagged, the channel had been removed from the YouTube Partner Program and appeals often came back with automated answers instead of a clear explanation. I could see where it was heading. I started using this website as a backup because depending on one platform felt like building a house on rented land.

That is also why some older HWGrow posts talk about releasing shorter previews on YouTube and keeping complete lessons here. The original goal was continuity: if one account vanished, growers would still have a direct way to find the information.

What happened in 2023 and 2024

When	What happened	What it changed
Before 2023	Videos were flagged, monetization was removed and the channel was one strike away from termination.	The website became the backup home for the library.
February 2023	YouTube removed the HWGrow channel. The channel was later restored while the dispute continued.	“Back online” no longer felt the same as “secure.”
March 2023	I recorded the requested video appeal explaining why I believed the harmful-and-dangerous label did not fit the educational content.	The appeal became part of the public record of the dispute.
November 2024	The YouTube account was restricted again, and Patreon shut down the HWGrow account.	Both discovery and membership access had been exposed to outside platform decisions.
2026	The public video library moved to first-party hosting on HowWeedGrow.com.	The site became the canonical home for the videos, captions, transcripts and articles.

The March 2023 appeal in my own words

The video below is the direct appeal referenced in the timeline. I argued that a safety rule should be applied consistently instead of rewarding animated or euphemistic cannabis instruction while restricting comparable real-plant education. The recording includes strong language and personal discussion of pain and medication side effects.

Appeal video chapters

• 0:00 — Monetization-review notice
• 0:22 — Why I believed the rules were inconsistent
• 0:45 — Clear objection to underage cannabis use
• 1:05 — Animated instruction versus real-plant footage
• 1:53 — The educational purpose of HWGrow
• 2:06 — My personal reason for teaching
• 2:36 — How restrictions reduce discoverability
• 3:02 — Request for consistent enforcement

Timestamp links open the standard HWGrow pop-out player at the selected moment without moving you away from your reading position.

Why this was personal

I did not start teaching because cannabis was a trendy category. I live with chronic pain from an abnormal growth in my spine, and cannabis became part of how I personally manage pain and sleep. That is my experience—not medical advice—but it is the reason I took home-grow education seriously enough to spend years testing, filming and answering questions.

The frustrating part was being treated as though showing adults how to grow legally was automatically dangerous. HWGrow has always told viewers to follow their local laws. The site maintains a separate home-grow legality section so the educational material is not mistaken for permission to break a law.

What “independent” means for viewers

• Videos live with their articles. You do not have to leave the lesson because an outside embed is blocked or age-restricted.
• Captions and transcripts stay connected to the source. That improves accessibility, makes the material easier to search and gives future translations a reliable starting point.
• Timestamps work without losing your place. On rebuilt guides, chapter links open the relevant moment in the HWGrow player while preserving the reader’s scroll position.
• Public and paid education have clear boundaries. Public guides stay searchable; structured Masterclass lessons remain inside their intended membership access.
• The library is not controlled by an outside recommendation feed. Use Search Our Tutorials to find the exact problem you are trying to solve.

Independent does not mean impossible to copy

The HWGrow player discourages the easy right-click “Save video as” route, but no web player can honestly promise that a determined viewer cannot record a screen. The practical goal is to remove the casual download option while keeping the videos indexable, captioned and easy for legitimate viewers to use.

Where to start now

If you are new, start with the complete beginner grow guide. If you already have a specific problem, use the tutorial search. If a guide saves you money or helps you finish a grow, you can keep the independent library running through the Support HWGrow page.

The platform history matters, but the mission is still the same: teach adults how to grow at home with clear evidence, honest limitations and fewer expensive mistakes.

Frequently asked questions

Is HWGrow still on YouTube?

Third-party accounts can change, but HowWeedGrow.com is now the canonical home for the public library. Use the site when you need the complete article, self-hosted video, captions, transcript and related guides in one place.

Why not keep using YouTube embeds?

An age restriction, removal or account decision can make a third-party embed unavailable even when the article is still live. First-party hosting keeps the lesson and its source video together.

Can viewers download HWGrow videos?

The player removes the ordinary download control and blocks the casual right-click save option. It cannot prevent every form of screen recording, so the protection is intended as a reasonable deterrent rather than an impossible guarantee.

How can I support the independent library?

Share direct HWGrow links, use the site’s tutorial search and visit the Support HWGrow page if you want to contribute voluntarily. Product recommendations in other articles use clear affiliate disclosures and do not change the price you pay.